EcoServant's youth add to Ruidoso's outdoor lifestyle

Compliments were heaped by Ruidoso village councilors on Stephen Carter and his team of young EcoServant workers during the council meeting earlier this month.

The organization participates in many community projects, including the building of trails in the Lincoln National Forest.

“This is a group we get to recognize quite often, because they do so much,” Mayor Pro Tempore Lynn Crawford said. “The mayor wanted to recognize EcoServants, the American Youth Conservation Corps, because of all the work they do.”

Carter thanked the council and village staff.

“This is my Ruidoso crew and my EcoRangers crew,” he said, introducing the individuals to the council. “I hired about 30 this year and I also have 20 working in Otero County. We just found out that we got national funding, so that puts us in a good spot for the next three years. Projects we are working on this year include building a new loop on the Geriatrics Trail and that’s the one right behind the (Cedar Creek) fitness trail. It’s 2.5 miles and we have to hand cut. We’re working on a trail in Mescalero with my Otero County crew and should be working around Bridal Falls (near Tularosa) next week.”

He was able to hire 50 young people between the ages of 17 to 25 by May 15, Carter said, much to the admiration of Crawford, who operates the Jockey Club, caters and has a restaurant in midtown.

“It’s getting tougher every year it seems to hire for the summer,” Crawford said. It’s good that Carter keeps the public informed about Eco-Servant projects on Facebook and the group’s webpage, because he keeps hearing the mountain bike trails they installed referred to as “world-class” and many of the hiking trails are in great shape because of their efforts, the councilor said.

“The downhill trail is like none other in New Mexico, it is world class,” Carter said. The crew finished it last month in Cedar Creek. Most people access it by Catron Road to the water tower at the top of the canyon, he said. The man guiding the construction is recognized around the world for his work, Carter said.

“It’s definitely going to draw more people, but if you’re worried about injuries, I saw a nine-year-old boy on it and a 60-something man,” Carter said. “You don’t have to jump down the slope (there are work-arounds).”

Crawford said he saw a video and the downhill trail looked “pretty wicked.”

“You’ve improved our area,” he said. The bicycle club and other have been trying to (foster) more (emphasis) on outdoor (activities) than we have, and you guys are leading the way with that.”

Councilor Tim Coughlin said people may not realize that EcoServants work with the U.S. Forest Service, the village and Lincoln County, as well as other entities. “It’s amazing what you’re doing with a relatively small crew,” he said.

A few have been hired by the city, Carter said. Finding a career path is one of the goals for participants, as well as developing an appreciation of natural resources, helping the community and encouraging a work ethic. Crew members this summer mostly come from Ruidoso, Capitan, Carrizozo, Tularosa and Ruidoso Downs, he said.

The program pumps about a half million dollars into the local economy and provides scholarship money for participants, he said.

“What we’re doing here is not happening in other areas,” Carter said. “We’re really working together. We put in six miles of trails each year and that’s not happening across the country.”

Village Parks and Recreation Director Rodney Griego has been indispensable in the projects, he said.